Cordoba Spain: A major train disaster in southern Spain has left at least 21 people dead and dozens injured after two high speed passenger trains derailed and collided late on Saturday, according to police and emergency officials.
The accident happened near the town of Adamuz in the province of Cordoba. One high speed train travelling from Malaga to Madrid derailed and crossed onto an adjacent track, where it struck another high speed train coming from Madrid towards Huelva.
Emergency services said several carriages were badly damaged, trapping passengers inside. Firefighters, medical teams and police worked through the night to rescue survivors and recover victims. Many of the injured were taken to hospitals in Cordoba and nearby cities, with several reported to be in serious condition.
Authorities said around 400 to 500 passengers were believed to be on board the two trains at the time of the crash. Local authorities set up emergency shelters and support centres to help survivors and families searching for loved ones.
Spanish officials described the incident as deeply disturbing, noting that the crash occurred on a straight section of track that had been recently maintained. Spain’s high speed rail system is considered one of the safest in Europe, making the accident especially shocking for the country.
The derailed train was operated by private rail company Iryo, while the other train belonged to state run operator Renfe. Rail traffic between Madrid and parts of southern Spain has been suspended as investigators examine the site.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and said the government would ensure a full and transparent investigation. Transport authorities said they are examining possible mechanical issues, track conditions and signalling systems to determine the cause of the derailment.
This crash is one of the deadliest rail accidents in Spain in recent years and has reopened painful memories of past train disasters. Investigations are expected to continue for several days as officials work to confirm the final number of casualties and establish exactly what went wrong.